Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool: Yet MORE VAR drama sees Reds denied late equaliser in France as Jurgen Klopp’s side are stunned after abject performance as Luis Diaz starts on day his dad is released

• Diogo Jota loses his record of never losing for Liverpool when on the scoresheet
• Re-live the action from Toulouse as Liverpool travelled to south west France 
• DOMINIC KING: I don’t understand what football is anymore – It’s All Coming Up 

 UEFA’S promotional material around Stade de Toulouse hyped up the ‘road to Dublin’ and this trip across the Channel proved there will be plenty of perhaps unforeseen blocks and bumps in the journey if Liverpool are to get all the way to the Europa League final in Ireland’s capital.

Jurgen Klopp’s team were not just beaten by their French opposition but outplayed and, though they were left furious at VAR chalking off a stoppage-time equaliser, this sub-par performance demonstrated that no opposition must be written off, even in Europe’s second-tier competition.

Young defender Jarell Quansah was cruelly denied a first goal in professional football in the 97th minute due to Alexis Mac Allister’s handball in the build-up, and that controversy might distract from the fact this was a dismal display.

Liverpool came into the match with a 100 per cent record in the competition this season and looked set to ease to the knockout stages, while they are the bookies’ favourites to go all the way before third-placed Champions League sides drop down into the Europa League.

And while this was only a minor bump in the road for Liverpool, who are still well on course to cruise through this group, it has highlighted they still have a number of weaknesses and the road to Dublin might not be as plain-sailing as some might have forecasted.

MORE TO FOLLOW. 

Aron Donnum opened the scoring for the hosts after a terrible mistake from Kostas Tsimikas

Thijs Dallinga scored the second after having one ruled out for a foul to put the hosts on top

Luis Diaz started the game for Liverpool just hours after his father was rescued in Colombia

Diogo Jota came off the bench but although he scored he was unable to inspire a late comeback

The equaliser was duly ruled out for a handball by Alexis Mac Allister in the final added minute

MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS 

Toulouse (5-3-2): Restes; Desler, Evans Costa, Nicolaisen, Diarra, Suazo; Schmidt (Magri 70′), Sierro, Cásseres; Dønnum (Kamanzi 80′), Dallinga

Subs: Cissoko, Gelabert, Mawissa Elebi, Begraoui, Bangré, Keben, Domínguez, Lacombe

Booked: Schimdt, Kamanzi

Goal: Donnum 36′, Dallinga 58, Magri 76′

Manager: Carles Martinez Novell

Liverpool (4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Matip, Quansah, Tsimikas (Szoboszlai 45′); Elliott, Endo (Alexander-Arnold 45′), Mac Allister; Doak (Salah 45′), Gakpo (Nunez 73′), Díaz (Jota 80′)

Subs: Alisson, Konaté, Chambers, Scanlon, Gordon, McConnell, Mrozek

Goal: Casseres OG 74′

Booked: Endo, Nunez

Manager: Jurgen Klopp 

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